A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1420, 1475-1535
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Burnis, Burneis, v. Also: burnys. [ME. burnys, bornys (14th c.), usually burnissh, -nyssh, etc., OF. burniss-, lengthened stem of burnir. See also Birnis v.] tr. To burnish, polish. 1375 Barb. viii. 225.
Thair basnetis burnyst var all brycht 1375 Ib. xi. 189; etc.
Armys that new burnyst wer c1420 Wynt. viii. 2527.
On bassynettis thare burnysyd brycht Men mycht se polaxys lycht c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vi. 159.
The multitude with wappynys burnist beyne a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 462.
His basnet was bordourit and burneist bricht With stanis of beriall deir a1500 Golagros and Gawane 601; a1500 Ib. 688.
His birny and his basnet, burnist ful bene 1513 Doug. vii. viii. 18.
This hart … With large hed, and tyndis burnyst fa[i]r 1535 Stewart 27625.
With fyve thousand hors, In curage [sic] cled, that burneist wes full bricht
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